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Christmas Joy

I love Christmas.For
me, Christmas brings back the joy of being a child.A time when I was with my family and playing
with my cousins. My grandfather loved
Christmas and made sure it was a great celebration.I remember the last Christmas we were all
together.It was 20 years ago.Jordan was a baby.My mom and my two aunts had made plans to not
be together that year.I wasn’t going to
be with everyone for the first time in my memory.We ended up having one more Christmas
together because my grandfather had a stroke and died a couple of days before that
Christmas.We always thought it was his
way of getting us together for Christmas one last time.As hard as that Christmas was, I look back on
it with joy of one last Christmas together.

I realize that for some Christmas is not a time of joy.The memories are not all sweet.For some the season is a reminder of some of
the darkest days of their life.For
others, the stress and high expectations of the holiday make it far from
fun.Let me encourage you.The story of Christmas is a story of a Savior
who was born to bring peace to the earth.This peace can begin in your heart.It’s a story of a new beginning for man.A new beginning that can begin in your heart as well.

In A Charlie Brown Christmas,
Linus narrates the birth of Jesus from Scripture.When he gets to the part about where the
angel says, “fear not” he drops his blanket and finishes the rest of the
narration without it.This was a big
deal for Linus.He was in front of a
crowd and let go of that which gave him security.Schultz obviously did this on purpose.Our security is in Christ.Let us allow the birth of Jesus be the hope
that replaces the insecurities in our life.

Join me and my family Sunday night at our home for a time of
fellowship.Our theme is A Charlie Brown Christmas. Let us come
together with the joy of Christ.A
Savior has been born.He is Christ the
Lord!Let us celebrate together the true
meaning of Christmas.

I am a servant of my Lord, Jesus. I serve Him as pastor of Eastern Heights Baptist Church in Bartlesville, OK. I am married to Tara and we have six children, Jordan, Jonathan, Abel, Ruby, David and Hannah. I have a bachelors degree from Oklahoma Baptist University, a master's degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a doctorate of ministry degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Though I am proud of my education, I hope to be more known for my obedience in following Jesus Christ as I love the Lord with all my heart and love my neighbor as my self.